Systems and methods for a power distribution transfer capacity calculator

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method includes determining a path between a power source and a tie switch in a feeder within a model of a power distribution network. The method also includes determining one or more ratings respectively associated with one or more transformers located on the path. The method also includes determining one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers located on the path. The method also includes determining one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers based, at least in part, upon the one or more ratings and the one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers. The method also includes assigning an available capacity to the tie switch in the model based, at least in part, on the one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers, such that the model indicates how much power may be supplied by the feeder, upon activation of the tie switch, to restore power to a portion of the power distribution network.

1 . A method, comprising:
 determining a path between a power source and a tie switch in a feeder within a model of a power distribution network;   determining one or more ratings respectively associated with one or more transformers located on the path;   determining one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers located on the path;   determining one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers based, at least in part, upon the one or more ratings and the one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers; and   assigning an available capacity to the tie switch in the model based, at least in part, on the one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers, such that the model indicates how much power may be supplied by the feeder, upon activation of the tie switch, to restore power to a portion of the power distribution network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more ratings respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises locating the one or more ratings respectively associated with each of the one or more transformers from the model. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more ratings respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises receiving the one or more ratings respectively associated with each of the one or more transformers from each of the one or more transformers over a network connection. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises locating and summing one or more loads in the model that are downstream from each of the one or more transformers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises receiving the one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers from each of the one or more transformers over a network connection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises subtracting the one or more respectively associated loads from the one or more respectively associated ratings for each of the one or more transformers. 
     
     
         7 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a storage configured to store a model of a power distribution network, wherein the model comprises one or more parameters of the power distribution network;   data processing circuitry configured to:
 determine an available capacity of a portion of a first feeder of the power distribution network to deliver power to a portion of a second feeder of the power distribution network based, at least in part, on the one or more parameters in the stored model; 
 determine an estimate of a total load of the portion of the second feeder based, at least in part, on the one or more parameters in the stored model; 
 compare the available capacity of the portion of the first feeder to the estimate of the total load of the portion of the second feeder; and 
 determine that the portion of the first feeder is capable of supplying power to the portion of the second feeder when the available capacity of the portion of the first feeder is greater than or equal to the estimate of the total load of the portion of the second feeder; and 
   an output device configured to output a user-perceptible indication that the portion of the first feeder should be used to restore power to the portion of the second feeder when it is determined that the first feeder is capable of supplying power to the portion of the second feeder.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more parameters of the power distribution network in the stored model comprise one or more of transformer power ratings, transformer loads, transformers locations, switch locations, switch states, tie switch locations, tie switch states, power source locations, total load for the feeder, number of load transformers in the feeder, and load transformer loads. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the data processing circuitry is configured to determine the available capacity of the portion of the first feeder by:
 locating, in the stored model, a path connecting a power source and a tie switch in the first feeder;   locating, in the stored model, one or more transformers on the path between the power source and the tie switch;   determining one or more ratings respectively associated with the one or more transformers;   determining one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers;   determining one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers based, at least in part, upon the one or more ratings and the one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers; and   determining the available capacity of the portion of the first feeder to deliver power to the portion of the second feeder based, at least in part, on the one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein determining the one or more ratings respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises receiving the one or more ratings respectively associated with each of the one or more transformers from each of the one or more transformers over a network connection. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein determining the one or more loads respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises locating and summing one or more loads in the stored model that are downstream from each of the one or more transformers. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein determining the one or more available capacities respectively associated with the one or more transformers comprises subtracting the one or more respectively associated loads from the one or more respectively associated ratings for each of the one or more transformers. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein determining the estimate of the total load of the portion of the second feeder comprises:
 locating, in the stored model, the portion of the second feeder, wherein the portion of the second feeder is defined by a path between a fault and a tie switch in the second feeder;   determining a number of load transformers in the second feeder coupled to the path;   determining a total number of load transformers in the second feeder;   determining a total load of the second feeder;   determining an estimate of the load per load transformer for the second feeder; and   determining the estimate of the total load of the portion of the second feeder based, at least in part, on the estimate of the load per load transformer and the number of load transformers on the path, wherein the portion of the second feeder extends between the fault and the tie switch in the second feeder.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein determining the total load of the second feeder comprises receiving a total power usage from a power source of the second feeder via a network connection. 
     
     
         15 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 one or more computer-readable media at least collectively storing instructions executable by a processor of an electronic device, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to determine an available capacity at a first tie switch of a first feeder in a power distribution network based, at least in part, on a model of the power distribution network; 
 instructions to determine an estimate of total load of a portion of a second feeder in the power distribution network based, at least in part, on the model; and 
 instructions to recommend that the first tie switch supply power to the portion of the second feeder if the available capacity at the first tie switch is greater than or equal to the estimate of the total load of the portion of the second feeder. 
   
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions to determine the available capacity of the first tie switch comprise:
 instructions to locate a path in the model between the first tie switch and a power source in the first feeder;   instructions to determine a rating for each of one or more transformers located on the path;   instructions to determine a load for each of the one or more transformers;   instructions to determine an available capacity for each of the one or more transformers based upon the rating and the load of the one or more transformers;   instructions to calculate the available capacity of the portion of the first feeder based, at least in part, on the available capacity of the one or more transformers.   
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to determine the rating for each of the one or more transformers comprises instructions to locate the rating from the stored model or receive the rating over a network connection for each of the one or more transformers. 
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to determine the load for each of the one or more transformers comprises locating and summing one or more downstream loads from the model for each of the one or more transformers. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to determine the available capacity for each of the one or more transformers comprises subtracting the load from the rating for each of the one or more transformers. 
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions to determine the estimate of the total load comprises:
 instructions to determine the portion of the second feeder, wherein the portion of the second feeder is defined by a path in the model between a fault and a second tie switch in the second feeder;   instructions to determine a number of load transformers in the second feeder coupled to the path;   instructions to determine a total number of loads in the second feeder;   instructions to determine a total load of the second feeder;   instructions to calculate an estimate of load per load transformer for the second feeder; and   instructions to determine the estimate of total power usage of the portion of the second feeder based, at least on part, on the estimate of a load per load transformer and the number of load transformers coupled to the path.